Recap of the Airtel where tech meets art meet-up

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The Airtel meet-up on technology and art was held at the Nailab on Friday 24th October. We were hosting Airtel to talk about how technology affects art and to discuss the recently launched Airtel Trace Music Stars completion.

The event was a panel session moderated by Samuel Mbugua. The panel comprised of: radio personality Tonee Ndungu, Music Producer Tim Rimbui, musician Dan Aceda and the Marketing Director of Airtel Kenya Charles Wanjohi.

Mr Wanjohi took us through what Airtel Trace Music Stars is all about. The service has been launched across Africa and features 13 countries where citizens get to be the next big thing. All they have to do is call, sing and they could end up being winners. The winner of the competioton will get a recording deal form Universal music Records. It was revealed that the winner of the Kenyan leg will get a cash prize as well as a car.

The public determines who wins. Once your song has been approved, you have to get people to vote for you. The top 5 contestants will then face-off in a finale that will be aired on NTV. The competition is about how well you can entertain and woo people to vote for you and is open ot anyone regardless of what type of phone they use.

The effect of technology and music could not go without mention. Part of the panel supported the notion that technology has adversely affected the arts particularly music while some though it had helped music.

Technology has changed how music is distributed and listened to. As a result, musicians have to be better at business to succeed. According to Dan Aceda, a song ha s at most 6weeks on air before a new song beats you to the top. The discussion urged artists to be business men and create products they can make money from.

The conversation was entertaining and educative at the same time. Below are some tweets from the event. You can get more by searching for the hashtag #AirtelExp